Analysis of fuel cell based power systems using EMTDC electrical power simulator

Abstract

Current demands for alternative power generation have expanded beyond the utility industry into advanced transportation. Electrical and hybrid automobiles have long been developed utilizing fuel cell technology, and all-electric aircraft someday becomes a reality. To facilitate such work in electrical power simulators such as PSCAD/EMTDC and later in real-time power simulators like RSCAD/RTDS, accurate models of the transient behavior of all system components must be developed. Although the current state of power system models sufficiently encompasses most conventional systems for detailed simulations, fuel cell models for such studies are underdeveloped for power system analysis. This paper presents the integration of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell model into proposed electrical power system architecture. The fuel cell and support system for power delivery, including the appropriate power electronics and energy storage devices, are simulated and presented. The fuel cell model includes both electrical and thermal components to better capture transient behavior.